English Language and Literature at Minnesota State University Moorhead

At Minnesota State Moorhead, English majors carry less debt than most of their peers—about $1,200 below the Minnesota average and ranking in the 25th percentile nationally (meaning 75% of programs saddle graduates with more debt). That's a real advantage given how tight early earnings can be in this field. Starting at $29,491, graduates here earn slightly above Minnesota's median for English programs and land at the 60th percentile statewide, though they trail higher-tier state schools like UMN-Duluth by roughly $5,600 initially.

The earnings trajectory shows solid improvement: a 27% jump to $37,439 by year four suggests graduates are finding their footing. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.90, the initial financial stretch is manageable compared to many liberal arts programs. However, the small sample size here—under 30 graduates in the data—means these figures could shift considerably with more data points.

For families committed to an English degree and preferring to stay in Minnesota, this program offers a lower-debt path with earnings that track respectably against state alternatives. The combination of below-average debt and above-median Minnesota earnings creates reasonable breathing room after graduation, though ambitious students might find better earning potential at flagship campuses.